Hello! I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with thirty some years' experience. I currently supervise master's degree level students in substance abuse treatment field placement. I have delivered services in a variety of contexts: schools, hospitals, and community mental health agencies. I approach my work with curiosity, openness, and transparency - attempting to increase understanding and build community in diversity.
We will start with a brief introduction. I would like to know what name or form of your name you want me to use. I would want to discuss what you expect of me and what I expect of you. I would like to ask you what you want to accomplish. How would your world look after therapy? We would begin to start formulating a plan of action.
First, I have a quirky sense of humor, at least so I am told. Laughing disperses energy that might be misused. I do my level best to focus on and become aware of client needs and strengths. I review goals frequently, checking if they are reachable or need modification. I ask if I am serving a client's needs, regularly.
Mindfulness is helpful in slowing down everything, while being completely focused on the present moment. Mindfulness-based therapies help clients break negative thought patterns, decreasing limiting self judgements. The mindfulness approach is empowering. This approach focuses energy on the moment, avoiding being overwhelmed and establishing resilience.
CBT helps clients change self-defeating thinking patterns and behaviors, leading to an improved quality of life. Clients in therapy can develop skills and strategies to manage stress, challenge negative thoughts and stories they tell themselves. This can lead to modifying behaviors, which can lead to positive outcomes.
I like to work with images, metaphors, and the symbolic. In Jung I find archetypes that can be seen as symbolic parts of ourselves. In Jung’s work there is exploration of an archetype he calls Shadow, a part of ourselves that is kept out of sight because somehow it has met with disapproval. The work here is to discover our shadow or shadows and use them to help acknowledge and accept our authentic self. Archetypes provide interesting ways to see and better understand ourselves, others, and the way of the human mind.